Rhode Island’s Blue Economy Strategy: Grow Blue
University of Rhode Island Research Foundation
Economic Strategy
The University of Rhode Island (URI) is a public research university in Kingston, Rhode Island. The URI Research Foundation is a non-profit organization that supports research and technology transfer from the university to the industry. The RI Blue Economy Partnership Coalition is a group of public and private sector organizations working to promote and grow the blue economy in Rhode Island.
Creating a public-private partnership is essential to developing a strategic direction for Rhode Island’s blue economy. Creating such a partnership aims to bring together the expertise and resources of the public and private sectors to identify and address the unique challenges facing the blue economy. By working together, the partnership can develop a comprehensive plan for sustainable growth that benefits businesses, workers, and the environment, while positioning Rhode Island as a leader in the blue economy.
Our Approach
Fourth Economy worked closely with the RI Blue Economy Partnership coalition to engage the public and identify key priority focus areas for the blue economy. Fourth Economy conducted extensive research and analysis, including stakeholder interviews and focus groups (sprint teams), to understand the challenges and opportunities facing the blue economy in Rhode Island. Through these efforts, Fourth Economy identified key priority focus areas for the partnership to address, including workforce development; business retention, attraction, and expansion; and infrastructure and technology.
In addition to identifying priority focus areas, Fourth Economy worked with the partnership to develop strategies for creating equitable access to resources and opportunities in the blue economy. This included identifying the needs of underrepresented and marginalized groups in the industry, and developing programs and initiatives to support their participation and success in the sector. Overall, Fourth Economy’s work with the RI Blue Economy Partnership coalition helped to create a more comprehensive and inclusive approach to promoting sustainable growth and economic development in the blue economy in Rhode Island.
Location
Rhode Island